A high school friend of his spoke at the memorial service. He had such wonderful words to say and also told a powerful story.

It was about the "Dash."

The friend worked for a mortuary in charge of headstones. He'd been writing out the orders for a tombstone inscription when someone looked over his shoulder and said, "you forgot the dash!"

He looked at his paper and saw the birthdate, then the deathdate. But, no dash.

"Thanks," he said, and thought...wow. That dash is the most important thing on the entire tombstone.

The most important thing about that person.

His life.

The friend then spoke of the deceased man's life. The way he touched so many people during that "dash." How he was such a great friend, honest man, loving husband and father. His "dash" was full of wonderful, amazing, admirable things.

The dates, whether they be a long or short period of time, it's that dash that means the most.

I first heard the poem the dash many mnay years ago. Seems like not long ago it was going around on an email chain too. It is a very wonderful reminder of how we should live life to its fullest every single minute of every single day. Life is to short not to, just as your friend whos dash ended way to soon.

what a beautiful blog! it is the dash, and allll of the small stuff that makes our "life" what it becomes to speak of when we are gone! here's to making the MOST of that dash! happy monday!hugs,shelley

I'm kind of a local history buff & like looking at the old graves. It's so sad that all the future generations get to see on our headstones about our lives is the dash. And that's the most important part.

I never thought of that before. This is what I love about blogging...the perspective. I hope my dash tells a story about a loving mom, wife, daughter, sister, friend, and teacher. I hope that my life makes the world a better place!